SAFE Mountain Hiking
Tips and advice for your safety on the mountain
Besides the experience on the mountain, safety is the top priority. The basics are adherence to and observance of important rules of behaviour and instructions as well as accurate tour planning and adequate equipment.
As an outdoor sport, mountain hiking offers great opportunities for health, socialising and adventure. The following recommendations from the Alpine clubs are designed to make mountain hikes as safe and enjoyable as possible.
10 recommendations for your hiking/mountain tour
Mountain hiking is an endurance sport. The positive stress stimuli for the heart and circulation require good health and a realistic self-assessment. Avoid time pressure and choose a pace that ensures no one in the group gets out of breath.
This way you can reduce your risk:
- You keep fit by exercising regularly (at home).
- Avoid unaccustomed and prolonged strain - especially on the first day.
- Walk slowly and avoid strenuous exertion (walk & talk method).
- In hot, humid summer weather, choose a shady, cool tour destination.
- Avoid dehydration and hypoglycaemia by eating regularly.
- If you have the flu or a cold, stay at home and recover.
- Take warning signs such as persistent breathlessness, palpitations, chest pain or nausea seriously: stop hiking and training or make an emergency call in good time.
- If you have cardiovascular, respiratory and/or metabolic diseases, consult a sports doctor before starting an exercise programme.
Hiking maps, guide books, the Internet and experts provide information on length, altitude difference, difficulty and current conditions. Always tailor tours to the group! Pay particular attention to the weather forecast, as rain, wind and cold increase the risk of accidents.
Mountain hiking is not a walk in the park. Careful preparation is the be-all and end-all of a safe mountain hike and protects you from unpleasant surprises. The following checklist will help you to gather the relevant information:
| Tour | Current conditions | Equipment | Weather | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Are you informed about the difficulty, distance and metres in altitude? | Are old snowfields to be expected? | Is your footwear suitable for the tour? | Does the planned tour match the weather forecast? | Do I know all the participants in my group? |
| Does the tour require a head for heights and surefootedness? | Are you informed about the condition of the path? | Is there clothing in your rucksack to protect you from the cold, wind and wet? | Are thunderstorms to be expected during the course of the day? | Is everyone up to the mountain hike in terms of health and fitness - including the descent? |
| Are there alternative options or alternatives? | When does the last cable car go down into the valley? | Do you have a first aid kit and a mobile phone with you in case of an emergency? | Is a cold front approaching that could cause snowfall in the mountains even in summer? | Does everyone have a head for heights and are they sure-footed? |
| Are there refreshment stops or the opportunity to top up with water? | Bivouac sack and head torch for hikes lasting several days? | Can we expect precipitation and consequently a risk of slipping? | Are children included? | |
| Have you taken out accident and rescue cost insurance? Have you installed and tested the Tyrol Mountain Rescue emergency call app on your smartphone? | Does high heat require a shady route? | Have you informed third parties about your tour destination? | ||
| Plan your time! Set off early - the risk of thunderstorms usually increases rapidly from midday in midsummer | Early twilight in autumn! |
Recommendation: Salvage insurance
Rescue missions in the mountains are not free of charge! If you take out mountain cost insurance in good time (e.g. travel insurance from Europäische Reiserversicherung or as a sponsor of the Tyrolean Mountain Rescue Service, as a member of the Alpine Club, via ÖAMTC/ADAC or credit card and private accident insurance), your mountain costs can be covered by the insurance up to the defined amount.
Attention! Health insurance companies do not pay for rescue from alpine emergencies!
Customise your equipment to suit your trip and make sure your rucksack is light. Rain, cold and sun protection should always be in your rucksack, as well as a first aid kit and mobile phone (Euro emergency number 112). A map, apps or GPS will help you find your way.
Checklist
- Backpack: volume approx. 25 litres
- Hiking boots: recommendations under point 4
- Walking poles: When used correctly, poles help to relieve pressure on the joints and support balance. However, our natural balance and coordination skills are negatively affected. Make sure that telescopic poles have a reliable locking mechanism.
- Clothing: Outdoor clothing suitable for the weather, including a change of clothes
- Sun protection: high-quality sunglasses, sun cream (protection factor ≥30), lip protection, headgear
- Rain protection: rain jacket/poncho, peekaboo, rucksack cover
- Cold protection: insulated jacket, hat, gloves
- Drinks and food: Plenty to drink, fruit/cereal bars, trail mix or simply anything that tastes good ...
- Helmet: depending on the tour, a helmet is also recommended (risk of falling rocks)
- First aid package incl. aluminium rescue blanket & bivouac sack (headlamp)
- Mobile phone: Ensure sufficient battery charge (emergency), carry a power bank if necessary
- Map material: Hiking map on a scale of 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 (tourist panoramic maps are too inaccurate), tour description and information material
- Documents: ID, insurance card, cash
For multi-day hikes you will also need:
" Hut sleeping bag (possibly hut shoes)
" Toiletries & towel
" personal medication
" Charger for mobile phone
Sturdy hiking boots protect and relieve the foot and improve surefootedness! When making your choice, pay attention to a perfect fit, non-slip tread sole, waterproofness and low weight.
The right shoe is an important safety factor - but also a factor for enjoyable mountain hiking. The large selection of hiking boots allows you to customise them to your individual requirements:
- Sturdy sports shoes with treaded soles are suitable for forest roads and easy hiking trails.
- Ankle-high hiking boots with a treaded sole are recommended for mountain trails .
- For difficult mountain trails, where hard old snow fields or gravel piles are to be expected, the tread sole must have a certain torsional rigidity. Heavy, crampon-proof mountain boots are not recommended: The advantages of these shoes cannot be utilised when hiking.
Falls as a result of slipping or tripping are the most common cause of accidents! Be aware that excessive speed or tiredness can severely impair your surefootedness and concentration. Take particular care when descending! Careful walking prevents falling rocks!
Tips for your surefootedness
- On steep paths, it is advisable to walk at a deliberately slow and steady pace on the ascent - small steps save energy.
- Around 2/3 of all hiking accidents happen on the descent. Tiredness, loss of concentration, coordination and speed of reaction are responsible for this. On steep descents, we bring our centre of gravity over the foot by bending our knees slightly, leaning our upper body slightly forward and arching our back slightly. If the descents are long and strenuous, take breaks.
- In passages where there is a risk of falling, the walking speed must be deliberately reduced.
Tip
What to do in an emergency?
Dial emergency number
140 - Alpine emergency call (mountain rescue)
112 - European emergency call
133 - Police
144 - Rescue
In pathless terrain, the risk of losing your bearings, falling and falling rocks increases. Avoid shortcuts and return to the last known point if you lose your way. Often underestimated and very dangerous: steep old snowfields!
It is not uncommon for shortcuts or variants to end in impassable, difficult terrain. The consequences are a fall, getting lost or a sometimes life-threatening night in a bivouac. Accident statistics show that these emergencies occur particularly frequently in the autumn months, when the days are already noticeably shorter. At this time of year, attention should also be paid to icy and slippery paths, especially on the snowy side.
Watch out for old snow fields
There is an acute risk of slipping and falling! If the snow surface is softened, there is the possibility of kicking into the snow with your boots. "Spikes" - quickly and easily fitted to your hiking boots - reduce the risk of slipping. Caution: Snow fields are more difficult to walk on when descending and crossing than when ascending.
Different weather conditions change the terrain every day. The assessment of a safe ascent is solely the responsibility and judgement of each individual!
Resting in good time helps you to relax, enjoy the scenery and socialise. Eating and drinking are necessary to maintain performance and concentration. Isotonic drinks are ideal thirst quenchers.
Hiking is not a competitive sport. Performance and competition, hectic and stress stay at home! If we take time for a short drink break every hour or so, our circulation will stay "up to speed" and we can combine hydration with the enjoyment of nature. If we treat ourselves to a muesli bar at about every second break, we prevent a drop in performance due to hypoglycaemia. We also take regular, short breaks on the descent to recover and maintain our concentration.
Please note that the focus is on variety and playful discovery for children! In passages where there is a risk of falling, one adult can only supervise one child. Very exposed tours that require prolonged concentration are not suitable for children.
"Our children don't accompany us into the mountains, we accompany our children." This formula lays the foundation for an eventful day. It is important to plan enough time for active breaks and discoveries along the way. Forest roads are boring for children! We look for interesting trails without overtaxing them and ideally plan a circular hike with alternative ways to break off. Equally important for motivation are a great snack and a teddy bear in your own rucksack. If you have small children with you in a child carrier, make sure that they sit comfortably, have enough to drink and are protected from the wind, cold and sun (!).
Small groups ensure flexibility and enable mutual help. Inform people you know about your destination, route and return. Stay together in the group. Beware of lone hikers: even minor incidents can lead to serious emergencies.
4 to 6 people are ideal for mountain hiking. With significantly more than 8 people, mountain tours quickly become chaotic endeavours. The experience and recreational value also decreases with large groups. Staying together in a group, showing consideration for weaker members and being prepared to abandon a tour should be a matter of course in the mountains.
To protect mountain nature: do not leave any rubbish behind, avoid noise, stay on the paths, do not disturb wild and grazing animals, leave plants untouched and respect protected areas. Use public transport or form car pools to get there.
" Respect protected and conservation areas for plants and animals!
" Only observe animals from a great distance, never chase them.
" Do not enterreforestations and young forests.
" Keep quiet and do not shout.
Dogs
Please use the dog waste bags and throw them in the nearest rubbish bin in the valley to avoid littering the pastures and nature. Help to keep the hiking trails clean.
Litter
Nature is a precious commodity - so please keep the mountains clean and don't leave any rubbish behind! Litter is still here - even if it's long gone!
Grazing animals - Together on Austria's mountain pastures
10 rules of behaviour for the correct handling of grazing animals
- Avoid contact with grazing livestock, do not feed animals, keep a safe distance!
- Keep calm, do not frighten grazing animals!
- Mother cows protect their calves, avoid encounters between mother cows and dogs!
- Always keep dogs under control and on a short lead. If an attack by a grazing animal is foreseeable: Immediately take off the lead!
- Do not leave hiking trails on mountain pastures and meadows!
- If grazing cattle block the path, keep as far away as possible!
- When approaching grazing cattle: stay calm, do not turn your back, avoid the animals!
- Leave the grazing area quickly at the first sign of animal restlessness!
- Pay attention to fences! If there is a gate, use it, then close it well and cross the pasture quickly!
- Treat the people who work here, nature and animals with respect!
Further information
The Alpine trail system in Tyrol
| Paths | Characteristic | Target group | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking trails | - Light | Walkers without alpine knowledge | - Sports shoes - Clothing/shoes adapted to the weather |
| Red mountain paths | -Moderately difficult - Often narrow and steep - Exposed in places (risk of falling) - Short secured walking passages or short sections with hands for balance support - Marked and signposted | Sure-footed, experienced mountain hikers | - Good physical condition - Mountain experience to recognise and assess alpine dangers on mountain trails - Mountain equipment Good weather conditions |
| Black mountain paths | - Difficult | Experienced mountaineers who are free from giddiness and sure-footed | - Very good physical condition - Mountain experience to recognise and assess alpine dangers on mountain trails - Mountain equipment - Sometimes alpine safety equipment - Good weather conditions |
| Alpine routes | - No path or foot or climbing tracks | Experienced mountaineers with a head for heights, sure-footedness and high alpine experience | - Excellent physical condition - Extensive mountain experience to recognise, assess and avoid alpine dangers - Climbing or glacier equipment - Safety and orientation equipment - Good weather conditions |
Hiking in Tirol: The difference between mountain and hiking trails | Tirol
The guidance system - Tyrolean mountain trail concept
Signposting
The hiking trails are signposted according to the Tyrolean hiking and mountain trail concept with yellow arrow signposts and white location boards.
Information on the signposts:
Difficulty; destination; logos of themed trails and pictograms; walking time; trail number
Content information on simplified signposts:
Difficulty; destination
Content information on the location boards:
Geographical name of the location; altitude in metres; GPS coordinates; Alpine emergency call
Calculation of walking time
Rule of thumb for calculating the walking time (for a medium-sized group of 4 to 6 people):
approx. 300 metres in altitude per hour for the ascent
approx. 500 metres in altitude per hour for the descent
approx. 4 kilometres horizontally per hour
The walking time is calculated separately for the difference in altitude and the horizontal distance. The value of the shorter walking time is halved and added to the longer value.
Example for calculating an ascent time: A moderately difficult mountain trail runs over 1,200 metres in altitude (= 4 hours walking time) and 8 horizontal kilometres (= 2 hours walking time, is halved as the smaller value). Walking time for the ascent = 4 hours + 1 hour = 5 hours.
Please note that the information provided on safety on the mountain is exclusively recommendations from the Wilder Kaiser Tourist Board. All information is subject to change without notice.